Dave Wright (runner)
Encyclopedia
Dave Wright is a former South African ultramarathon
athlete. He won won 5 gold medals in the Comrades Marathon
, the worlds largest and oldest ultramarathon, and 3 gold medals in the Two Oceans Marathon
. Despite not winning either event, he gained renown and is still famous in running circles as Dancing Dave Wright due to his tradition of finishing all Comrades with "something between a tango and a waltz" followed by a cartwheel across the finishing line.
, from where he matriculated in 1968. After high-school he spent one year at Stellenbosch University
but returned to Johannesburg after only a year, entering Wits University
. It was during his time at Wits that Dave first began to run competitively, including his first two Comrades in 1973 and 1974.
After completing his undergraduate, he moved to Durban and joined Savages Athletic Club, with whom he would achieve his greatest success. After four years in Durban, he returned again to Johannesburg, running for a while with Old Edwardians and later Rand Athletic Club. Dave has remained in Johannesburg to this day and no longer runs competitively.
However, what sets him apart from all other Comrades runners was his habit of finishing the 90km race with "waltz" and a cartwheel, something that all-time race-win record holder Bruce Fordyce
recently placed as number 4 on his 10 Best Comrades Moments, writing that while he could "scarcely hobble at the finish...his (Dave's) gymnastic display was always worth at least a 9.75 for the Olympic floor exercise."
Ultramarathon
An ultramarathon is any sporting event involving running longer than the traditional marathon length of .There are two types of ultramarathon events: those that cover a specified distance, and events that take place during specified time...
athlete. He won won 5 gold medals in the Comrades Marathon
Comrades Marathon
The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately 90 km run in the Kwazulu-Natal Province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race...
, the worlds largest and oldest ultramarathon, and 3 gold medals in the Two Oceans Marathon
Two Oceans Marathon
The Two Oceans Marathon is a 56 km / 35 mile ultramarathon held annually in Cape Town, South Africa on the Saturday of the Easter weekend. Self-proclaimed as "the world's most beautiful marathon", the race is run against a backdrop of spectacular scenery through the Cape Peninsula.The race...
. Despite not winning either event, he gained renown and is still famous in running circles as Dancing Dave Wright due to his tradition of finishing all Comrades with "something between a tango and a waltz" followed by a cartwheel across the finishing line.
Background
Dave Wright was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he attended St John's CollegeSt John's College (Johannesburg, South Africa)
St John's College is a private school for boys in Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.-History:St John's College was founded in Johannesburg on 1 August 1898 and is an Anglican school....
, from where he matriculated in 1968. After high-school he spent one year at Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University is a public research university situated in the town of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Other nearby universities are the University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape....
but returned to Johannesburg after only a year, entering Wits University
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
. It was during his time at Wits that Dave first began to run competitively, including his first two Comrades in 1973 and 1974.
After completing his undergraduate, he moved to Durban and joined Savages Athletic Club, with whom he would achieve his greatest success. After four years in Durban, he returned again to Johannesburg, running for a while with Old Edwardians and later Rand Athletic Club. Dave has remained in Johannesburg to this day and no longer runs competitively.
Comrades Marathon
The Comrades Marathon is the event in which Dave Wright established his reputation as a serious ultramarathon runner and etched his name into the lore of South African running as Dancing Dave Wright with his finishing line routine. He won five gold medals between 1977 and 1982, with a personal best placing of second, and completed ten races. For both these achievements he has earned his Comrades Marathon number of 2930 in perpetuity, a green numberHowever, what sets him apart from all other Comrades runners was his habit of finishing the 90km race with "waltz" and a cartwheel, something that all-time race-win record holder Bruce Fordyce
Bruce Fordyce
Bruce Fordyce is a South African marathon and ultramarathon athlete. He is best known for having won the South African Comrades Marathon a record nine times, of which eight wins were consecutive. He also won the London to Brighton Marathon three years in a row...
recently placed as number 4 on his 10 Best Comrades Moments, writing that while he could "scarcely hobble at the finish...his (Dave's) gymnastic display was always worth at least a 9.75 for the Olympic floor exercise."
The Dance
His routine would begin approximately 50 meters out from the finishing line, when he would hold his arms out to his sides at shoulder height while alternately swinging one leg behind the other and continuing to run. Just before the finish he would launch into a cartwheel that took him across the line.Results
| Year | Position | Time | Direction | Athletics Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 28 | 6:22:00 | Down | Wits |
| 1974 | 31 | 6:46:00 | Up | Wits |
| 1975 | 771 | 9:17:00 | Up | Savages |
| 1977 | 3 | 5:58:00 | Up | Savages |
| 1978 | 2 | 5:48:00 | Down | Savages |
| 1979 | 10 | 6:04:58 | Up | Savages |
| 1981 | 8 | 5:56:02 | Up | Old Edwardians |
| 1982 | 5 | 5:46:49 | Down | Old Edwardians |
| 1986 | 97 | 6:25:53 | Down | Rand |
| 1988 | DNF | - | Up | Rand |
| 1994 | 36 | 6:14:54 | Up | Rand |
| 1995 | DNF | - | Down | Rand |
| Source | ||||
Two Oceans Marathon
In addition to the Comrades, Dave also performed well in South Africa's other major ultramarathon, the 56km Two Oceans Marathon. He completed the event 6 times between 1973 and 1983, placing in the top-10 on five occasions.| Year | Position | Time | Athletics Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 3 | 3:30:54 | Wits |
| 1978 | 7 | 3:26:00 | Savages |
| 1979 | 4 | 3:21:00 | Savages |
| 1981 | 8 | 3:22:22 | Old Edwardians |
| 1982 | 10 | 3:22:10 | Old Edwardians |
| 1983 | 124 | 3:52:19 | Old Edwardians |